3rd Nigeria Family Planning Conference- November 26th- 28th, 2014
Conference Communique
The 3rd Nigeria Family Planning Conference was organized by the Association for the
Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health
and other stakeholders between November 26th and 28th 2014 at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton
Abuja Hotel. (AAFP) is a registered national coalition of family planning (FP) advocates in
Nigeria with over 50 organization comprising of government ministries, departments and
agencies, networks, development partner, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil
Society Organizations (CSO) and the private sector, etc.,
The Conference was organized to improve access to family planning information and services in
Nigeria and had as its theme: Bridging the Gaps between Knowledge & Practice of Family
Planning in Nigeria.
A total of 569 participants comprising representatives from all the states of the federation,
donors, development partners, religious/traditional leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs),
the academia, researchers, women and youth organizations, professional associations, the
private sector, trade unions, members of the uniformed forces, journalists and representatives
of government ministries and parastatals participated in the conference. Over 60 youth
delegates from across the country attended the conference
The conference was declared open by the Minister of State for Health (FMOH) and the
Supervising Minister of Health-Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, represented by Dr. Wapada Inuwa Balami,
the Director of the Family Health Department, FMOH. Goodwill messages were delivered by the
UNFPA, USAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Population Commission, and
Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, amongst others.
Pre-conference activities included A Youth Forum that focused on and addressed the Family
Planning (FP) Needs of Young People which was held on November 25th at the Reiz Continental
Hotel, Abuja.
The 3rd Nigeria Family Planning Conference was held on the heels of 2013 National
Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). NDHS results/findings indicate knowledge of Family
Planning in Nigeria to be 85 per cent while actual use is only 10 per cent. The NDHS also
showed that almost twice the number of women who currently use modern contraceptives are
in need of limiting or spacing of their births but are not using any means of contraception.
Addressing this unmet FP need will avert close to 1.6 million unintended births and reduce
maternal deaths by 40 percent.
A key highlight of the Conference was the launch of 3 national reproductive health policy
documents
by the representative of the Supervising Minister of Health:
1. The Nigeria Family Planning Blue Print (Scale – Up Plan)
2. National Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Strategy
3. Global Programme to Enhance Reproductive Health Commodity Security (GPRHCS)
Survey Report
After three days of deliberations which included keynote addresses, presentations of research
findings, abstracts, reports of family planning and reproductive health project best practices,
models and lessons learnt, the conference participants:
Acknowledged the recent efforts of the federal government, donors, development partners
and key stakeholders in the development and launch of the Nigeria Family planning Blueprint
(Scale-up Plan); and the National Strategy on Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive, the
Approval of the National Task Shifting Policies on Provision of LARC by Community Health
Extension Workers (CHEWs), the open commitment to Family Planning and Reproductive
Health Commodity Security and the leadership of the Nigeria on UN Commission on Live-Saving
Commodities, among others;
Reaffirmed that bridging the gap between knowledge (85%) and practice and use of modern
contraceptives (mCPR 10%) would not only reduce maternal mortality but would also
accelerate fertility decline and promote national development;
Expressed concern on the slow progress on the use of modern contraception as shown by the
stagnation and low CPR of 10 percent in the country since 2003 compared to other African
countries.
Called on the government at federal, state and LGA levels, to ensure everything possible is
done to increase the uptake of modern contraceptives in Nigeria to at least 4.2% mCPR
annually in order to ensure the achievement of the goals set in the Nigeria Family Planning
Blueprint.
The participants made the following key recommendations:
1. The urgent passage of the National Health Bill that will release resources for RH and other
health services and reduce Nigeria dependence on external donors and funders.
2. Commitment by the government of Nigeria to the judicious implementation of the Nigeria
FP Blueprint and the strategies expressed there in including – creating budget lines and
increased funding for key activities such as the procurement and distribution of required RH
commodities, large scale training of health workers for Long Acting Reversible
Contraceptives (LARC) services and increased partnership with the private sector, amongst
others.
3. Renewed commitments to the population benefits of family planning through the review of
the National Population Policy, investing in quality education and health, including
reproductive health and services for the youth, and improvement in good governance
towards reaping the benefits of Demographic Dividend or youth Dividend.
4. Promote active youth participation in the planning, design and implementation of policies
especially those related to FP and RH services and address all barriers that hinder young
people’s universal access to the comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health information
and services.
5. Scale up access to comprehensive and youth friendly health information and services for
young people including marginalized and most at risk group such as persons with
disabilities, people in rural areas and the urban poor through a rights-based approach
regardless of sex, age, HIV status or sexual orientation.
6. Increased government (LGA, State and Federal) health budgetary allocations to promote
adolescent and youth Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) research and programs in Nigeria.
Conference Communique Committee
Mr. Bola Kusemiju
Dr. Chris Agboghoroma
Mrs. Chinwe Onumonu
Dr. Okai Aku
Mrs. Charity Ibeawuchi
Dr. Robinson Yusuf
Mr. Kayode Morenikeji
Mr Lawrence Anyanwu
Dr. Suilaman Dauda
Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi (Sarkin Yaki Gagi)
Mr. Fidelis Nweke
Hajia Rabi Kachiro
Mrs. Mary Ogholi
Maryam Momoh
Dr. Fatima Tumsah
Hajia Bilikisu Oladimiju
Mr. Shola Ogundipe
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Member
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